The Protector of Misthaym
A summary concerning the legend of Grymorgon, the great crayk of Misthaym. May it serve as a warning to all who would deal with nature lightly.
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In the year 934 of the Dissension Age, Trayax Vor took up the sword Zepanzeyr and embarked on a quest to save the people of Misthaym township, in the Sidrani held lands of Luthena. Forged by the Sidrani Fathers, Zepanzeyr was made of Kirzan steel and infused with the power of radia. It was a weapon created for one purpose: to slay the infamous crayk beast known as Grymorgon.
For years, Grymorgon had ruled the land. On his whim, the giant creature would devour, destroy and by his very presence, disrupt the plans of those who sought to dwell in his domain. Yet, the beast Grymorgon did have the right to live. Had the beast not lived in this land long before the Sidrani settled in Misthaym? Yes, he had. The fact that one seldom sees a dead crayk should be enough to come to such a conclusion. What then could be done?
Well, many fighters came forward volunteering to slay Grymorgon. Foremost among them was Trayax Vor. Trayax was a respected man and capable fighter known for bringing criminals to justice, defending settlement boundaries from carapid threats and accomplishing other brave feats. Life had been hard for him, but Trayax was a noble man even if his impatience drove him to foolishness. However, before a sword could be lifted against the threat of Grymorgon, justice on behalf of nature was due.
The magistrate of Misthaym decided this problem would be solved by the law of Ruse. In order for fair and just conflict resolution to occur between this beast of nature and the people, a Ruse match would be played. A champion to play for Grymorgon would be chosen and a champion for the people of Misthaym would be elected as well. If the Grymorgon player won, the settlers would depart from his domain, leaving the beast to rule his kingdom. If the player for the people won, Grymorgon would be killed and the people of Misthaym would usurp his lands.
In their eagerness to rid the land of Grymorgon, the people of Misthaym attempted to choose an unfit champion for the beast. So it was that a Sidrani girl of only 20 years was chosen to play on behalf of Grymorgon. Her name was Maura Sel. Maura’s humble appearance and background as the daughter of farmers made her easy to underestimate. Ruse is a sophisticated game which requires much concentration, strategy and real-time planning. How could a girl so young possess enough mental power to win?
On the other side was the champion of the people, a longtime Ruse Tactician (a brand of Ruse player) named Rowyn Garl. Rowyn was an instructor of the game, held several Ruse titles and was well known for methodically dismantling his opponents with a reactive play style. The people were confident in his abilities to win the contest and clear the way for Grymorgon’s death.
Ruse matches take days to play, so it was no surprise after two weeks to see the game barely progressing into the more decisive stages. What did come as a surprise, was Maura had the upper hand. Grumblings began amongst the people. What would they do if Rowyn lost? They would be forced to move to new lands, taking their flocks, food stores, belongings and families far away to start a new life. An arduous task indeed. No matter, Rowyn would win they concluded. He was simply toying with his opponent.
Now as the Ruse competition continued to play out, Trayax took it upon himself to bypass the justice of the game. He approached the Sidrani Fathers, a collective of weapon crafters who would only form weapons for special purposes, working for honor rather than pay. These prideful men greatly desired to stay within the realm of Misthaym, as its radia-rich soil provided them with limitless specimens to use in their weapon forging. They had an interest in seeing Grymorgon’s doom come to pass.
In the end, Trayax convinced the Sidrani Fathers to craft a unique weapon for him. Within two days, Zepanzeyr was born – a blade forged from the hardest Kirzan Steel and infused with a poisonous form of radia called jagyt, which would kill Grymorgon outright if it penetrated his outer scales. Trayax accepted the blade with pride, bowed to the Sidrani Fathers and rode out of the city with haste to slay the beast.
About this time, the Ruse match was in the closing stages of play. Maura still held the advantage. Rowyn was taken aback by her quick and decisive moves, which spoke to her cunning and foresight. Rowyn’s tactics had become labored and layered with hesitation. It was clear, Maura would win and the people would need to concede to nature.
Maura placed her last piece, sealing victory over the Ruse Tactician. They bowed to one another in good form and mutual respect. “How did you win when you had not played this game before?” Rowyn asked the farm girl as the crowd stood in disbelief. “Whoever said I had not played before? Besides, in the end nature always wins.” Maura replied with sincerity.
Just as the magistrate stepped forward to announce the verdict in the matter, a scout ran into the crowd calling out, “Trayax rides to slay Grymorgon!” The crowd erupted with cheers and in the excitement they dispersed, leaving Maura and Rowyn standing at the Ruse table. Many mounted up and rode out of town to catch the spectacle as it unfolded, forgetting the outcome of the hard fought Ruse match.
Those brave enough to ride out to the battle between Trayax and Grymorgon, watched from the surrounding hillside. Down in a small hollow peppered with radia nodes growing up from the ground, the onlookers watched as Trayax approached the mouth of a dark cave banging his sword against his shield as he walked. From the depths of the cave a roar boomed out and Grymorgon emerged, his green scales gleaming in the sun and his venomous tongue thrashing about wildly. The spectators grew weak at the sight of the beast, which stood more than five times the height of Trayax and shimmered with a pale green aura.
The battle was quick, for Trayax was nothing against the might of the crayk. However, Grymorgon underestimated the power of Zepanzeyr. Grymorgon opened his mouth, melting Trayax’s shield with a choking toxic breath. Straining through the fumes eating at his very lungs, Trayax struck out at Grymorgon’s chest with one final act of defiance shouting, “I am your death!” The blade pierced Grymorgon’s heart and blood poured from the wound, burning away the green foliage on which it spilt, turning the ground into crackling glass.
So came to pass Trayax of the Vor household and Grymorgon of Misthaym cave. The bodies of the two lay as stout as stone for two days before the people dared to approach them. Trayax was buried on a hill overlooking the site of his death. The people mourned his passing with much grief. Grymorgon was burnt to ash, with only his scales existing beyond him. They are now on display at the archival hall in the great city of Phaezyl.
Over the next few years, the people of Misthaym were struck with many hardships. As they tried to expand their settlements, crops died, livestock perished and many people became ill with a strange terminal sickness. Radia Hunters were called in to investigate the land for signs of negative radia. In the end, the land itself was determined to be toxic. A search of Grymorgon’s cave revealed a surprising truth. Due to his great size Grymorgon had served as a radia sink for the land, absorbing much of the negative power emanating from beneath the surface of the ground. The settlements of Misthaym were abandoned forthwith and its peoples scattered.
Like Grymorgon’s scales, Zepanzeyr was also recovered by the ruling council in Phaezyl and placed on display. The sword has come to represent the folly of seeking to gain mastery over nature. As is true on Earth, all life must bow before the elements of flood, fire, quake and storm. People must cultivate harmony between themselves and the creatures of their respective worlds or suffer the pain of broken and deadly ecosystems. Nature always wins. There is no challenge to this, only acceptance.
For years following the death of Trayax and Grymorgon, the Sidrani Fathers beseeched the council for Zepanzeyr to be released to them so they might destroy it, but they were denied. The Sidrani Fathers disbanded in shame not long after. Their decision to bypass honest justice and forge Zepanzeyr, meant the end of many lives and the demise of the true protector of Misthaym – Grymorgon.
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As for Maura the young Ruse player, she went on to become a respected ranger and gifted beast tamer. Sometimes she visits the site of Grymorgon’s death and ponders the meaning of his existence.
–Eric Torres